HORTICULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. 



155 



Of Myrtles there are several varieties. 



1. Myrtus bullata, native name the ' Rama Rama,' an erect shrub or 

 small tree, 10-15 ft. high. Flower pale pink ; berry long, turgid, black. 



2. Myrtus Balphii, a smaller variety. 



3. Myrtus obcordata, the native 'Rohutu.' Leaves small, pale green, 

 and variegated along the margin. Fruit oblong, J in. long, black or violet. 



4. Myrtus pedunculata, a straggling shrub, 10-12 ft. high, white- 

 flowered, with berries orange yellow in colour. The berries were 

 formerly eaten by the Maoris. There is also found another example of the 

 Myrtle family, viz. the Pimento, officinalis syn. Eugenia Pimenta, the 

 Maori ' Tawhake,' which yields the " Allspice " of commerce. 



Ranunculus. — Of this genus there are several species, found growing 

 luxuriantly in the northern and southern mountain ranges lining the 

 shady banks of mountain streams, the principal among which is the 

 Ranunculus Lyallii — ' The Shepherd's or Mountain Lily ' ; flowers 

 waxy- white, 4 inches in diameter, named after Professor Lyall, F.L.S., 

 a botanist of distinction. Another species bears the native name of 

 ; Kori-Kori,' and is found in the North Island and also in the Nelson 

 district, in the high mountain ranges. It is known to the settlers as the 



1 Big Buttercup,' and is probably the largest buttercup found in the world. 

 Colour golden ; 1^ inch diameter. 



There are also : 



Ranunculus Traversii, cream-coloured; R. pinguis, small flower, gold- 

 coloured ; R. nivicola, found near the perpetual snow on Mount Egmont ; 

 colour bright yellow. 



Magnolia. — There are one or two varieties of this shrub or tree. The 

 best is Drimys axillaris, native name 1 Horopito,' known to the colonists 

 as the 'Pepper Tree,' on account of its highly pungent properties. The 

 trunk is 6 or 8 inches in diameter. The wood, pale in colour, is used for 

 inlaying cabinet work. 



Cruciferce.— The cruciform family of plants is represented by : 



(1) Nasturtium, flowers yellow ; (2) Barbarea, flowers yellow ; 

 (3) Sisymbrium, white or yellow flowers ; (4) Cardamine, white flowers ; 

 also Braya, Lepidium, and Notothlaspi, all white flowers. 



Viola.— This genns in New Zealand consists of three species : 

 Viola filicaulis, flowers very pale blue ; J-f inch in diameter. 

 Viola Lyallii, a similar plant, but flowers smaller. 

 Viola Cunninghamii, pale blue, scentless ; J-§ inch in diameter. 



Melicytus. — Honey Trees, of which there are four species : 



(1) Melicytus ramiflorus. Height about 30 feet ; the trunk about 



2 feet in diameter ; flowers of a greenish-yellow hue, borne in a mass. 

 The berries are about the size of a Pea, bright violet colour. 



(2) M. macrophyllus. Four to seven feet high ; flowers twice the 

 size of ramiflorus, and larger berries. 



(3) M. lanceolatus. Small slender tree ; flowers small, and the berry 

 oblong, ^ of an inch in diameter. 



(4) M. micranthus. A small variety, with a berry as small as 

 Mustard seed. 



Pittosporece. — Pitchy seed family of plants, so called on account of the 

 pitchy matter enveloping the seeds. 



